Welcome to the Funk Revolution
DON’T GO AWAY
entry posted Dec 2th, 2008
Lucky Brown's limited-edition 45s out now on Tramp Records, Germany:
TR-1012 "Don't Go Away/The Fresh One"
TR-1014 "Potatocakes/More Potatocakes"
here are a few reviews of "Don't Go Away" gleaned from the internet:
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"Gritty modern funk with an impeccably dusty vibe -- the first thing we’ve heard from Lucky Brown --and hopefully not the last! "Don’t Go Away" is a tight, heavy number the wholly belongs to the killer early 70s school of funk -- a modern jam that exudes all the dust and grit of a long buried 45 -- with heavy drums, horns, rave up guitar and funky flute. This track has lead vocals but the flip "The Fresh One" is an instro -- a tighter little number that’s just as rough -- with even more scratchy guitar, sax, flute and unpredictable changes!"
[© 1996-2008, Dusty Groove America, Inc.]
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"New star LUCKY of deep expectation BROWN! ! Debut work from TRAMP! ! ! 60’S? The topic unit which makes about FUNK inquire whose 70’S manner full opening is hot! ! Debut 7 of the vocal & in strike number 2 tune recording with complete sound "! ! ! Washington guy JOEL RICCI LUCKY BROWN which is led (& FUNK REVOLUTION) debut 7 "from German TRAMP release! ! To be confined to the sound quality of the tend also the hot vocal the parenthesis is good highest in the sound which it reappears, "DON’T GO AWAY"! ! And in strike "THE FRESH ONE which" saxophone solo feature is done! ! The new star of expectation of the US scene which follows to DAP-KINGS and BUDOS BAND and POETS OF RHYTHM etc."
[Internet Translation from Jet Set Records, Japan]
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"Upon first listening you’d be forgiven for thinking this was another rare funk gem rescued from obscurity and reissued by German funk reissue specialists Tramp Records, but believe it or not this rough-ass funk bomb with funky flute and rugged vocals was recorded only as recently as 2007. Quite incredible, and a great double sider too!"
[Jazzman Records, UK]
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"New single from the TRAMP label comes from LUCKY BROWN. LB is in fact a new guise for JOEL RICCI, who is assisted by THE FUNK REVOLUTION on "DON'T GO AWAY", a funky helping of JB's-styled grooves, joined on the flipside by "A FRESH ONE", which keep the JAMES BROWN vibes going thanks to killer sax."
groovedis.com
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"The sound on this gives it a flavor of authenticity. One of the other things that helps it to ring more true than most is the repeated title / chorus right after the intro. The vocals are hurried but rushed with a touch of anxiety. The band seems to playing with a similar heart and the whole thing blends nicely. Drums crash, guitars chug and the horns have a conversation throughout. The soloist of choice here is the flute and solo it does. You can pick up a hint of flute behind the chorus / vocals about midway and then off it goes. I have been a fan of the flute as an aggressive addition to any band and especially like it in the funk genre. Over analyzing a New Funk track kills it. Listen, move but DON'T GO AWAY! Side two kicks open with one of my favorite intros in a very long time. At first it sounds like a series of false starts and then slams up against a Free Jazz sax run that does what ever it wants over this very strong groove. Happily the flute is back and tries to match the expressiveness of the sax but honestly it falls a little short only because it grooves sweetly and too close to the rhythm. The false starts are back and this time they act as a chorus of skipping records while the drums take a shot at improvisation. Here keeping the beat close to the main groove works well as the band continues to skip right to the end. Easily one of the most creative entries on the New Funk scene and one that may give it legs as a stand out track."
primitivesoundsystem.blogspot.com/
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LUCKY BROWN 2008
entry posted Apr 10th, 2008
Lucky Brown and The Funk Revolution
Serendipity gets its groove on!
by Melanie Merz
Led by their fearless and visionary leader, the instigators of this Funk Revolution united to form a six-man musical cadre that is taking the world by storm.
It was less than a year ago that Lucky Brown & the Funk Revolution played their first show at the Nightlight’s Funk or Treat IV. Ah, no, that’s not going back far enough.
It all began with Joel Ricci, undisputedly the Godfather of Bellingham funk. After graduating from Eastern Washington University with a degree in Composition, Joel moved to Bellingham. He started playing in a few bands around town before deciding to take the reins and head up a band himself. That band was called The Lucky 7. “It was a legendary outfit. That’s the band that made me decide to be a musician, there was so much support for what we were doing,” he said.
When The Lucky 7 disbanded, Joel took off for Europe where he spent six months making friends, shaking hands with DJs, rubbing elbows with producers and jamming wherever he could.
Upon his return La Push was formed. La Push was the organic, collaborative funk and soul ensemble that spanned four years and brought more than 30 of thee finest local musicians onto the stage under its renowned name. “That band was such a phenomenon." "It was all about community, about unity. About people coming together and being greater than the sum of their parts,” he said. With Joel as a constant, there were two main waves of La Push musicians: first the Ancestors, and then the Apparatus. “La Push was an initiation, a ritual into a way of being as musicians. Where you have to listen, you have to offer your own thing in a way that encourages others. I believe really strongly in that initiation process.” After being baptized in Bellingham’s most holy bath of funk and moving along to work on their own projects, Joel continues to consider the former La Push musicians as being part of the Westsound Union (his label is called West Sound Records).
It was from this crop of sultry and seasoned musicians that Joel recruited his Funk Revolution. “Of the people involved in anything I’ve done under the Westsound, I chose the crème, the players I was most confident I could travel the world with.”
Who are these revolutionaries? On the drumset is Mr. Ollie Klomp (Gruntruck, Oval League), on keys Delvon Lamarr (Megatron, Vaughn Kreestoe), Ben Bloom (of War Pigeon and Diano Garcia Band) plays guitar, Thomas “Tommy D” Deakin (Yogoman Burning Band) jams on the tenor sax, and Mars –yes, just Mars – works the trombone. Frontman Ricci provides vocals, flute and his signature trumpet.
That brings us back to the beginning: the Lucky Brown debut at Funk or Treat IV last year. Continuing the Halloween tradition that La Push had seared into Nightlight trick or treaters, the meeting between funk-loving Bellingham and Lucky Brown was like a match made in heaven. “It’s the music, man,” Delvon said. “Joel Ricci really knows how to write some incredible, incredible tunes. That and the combination of the musicans… I can’t even describe it!”
A couple of months and cassette recorded demos later, Joel was on a plane back to Europe. In early 2008 he signed Lucky Brown on to Tramp Records, a German label.Their first 45, Don’t Go Away, was released in January and the second, Potatocakes, in May. Joel doesn’t even know the extent of their prowess, but outside of North America and Europe, he knows the 7 inch vinyls can be found in Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Googling Lucky Brown will turn up wildly enthusiastic reviews in a whole slew of foreign languages.
“It’s very positive and glorious and healthy,” said Ollie of Lucky Brown. “Good for everyone involved. Not only the musicians, the people in front seem to enjoy it. Getting their groove on. They’re very convincing, I don’t know if the people feel free, but the boogie gets on on the dance floor for sure. And there’s chemistry flying off the stage in a good way, possibly in a cosmic way. It is really about this guy [Joel]. His songs, his band, his momentum; and I’m happy to be a part of it.”
Lucky Brown (Joel picked up the nickname while touring with Yogoman Burning Band, a throwback reference to The Lucky 7) & the Funk Revolution plan on crusading in Europe. Joel said. “this is my world-class combo.”
Those of you who have had the pleasure of meeting Joel Ricci know that not only is he a dreamer, he’s a doer. He’s constantly meeting new people, sharing ideas, encouraging creativity, and making things happen. If had to place a wager, I wouldn’t hesitate to bet it all on the fantastic soul-funk experience that is Lucky Brown.
For more information, visit http://www.myspace.com/joelricci or http://www.westsoundrecords.com
LUCKY BROWN & THE FUNK REVOLUTION
Joel Ricci: Pocket Trumpet, Flute, Lead Vocals (LaPUSH, Yogoman Burning Band, The Librarians)
Thomas Deakin: Tenor Sax (Yogoman Burning Band)
Mars Lindgren: Trombone (Picoso, LaPUSH , Yogoman Burning Band, Aesence of Time)
Oli Klomp: Drums ( Rockin Teenage Combo, Gruntruck, Sensation Junkies, Oval League)
Delvon Dumas: Organ & Bass (Megatron, LaPUSH, Soul Provider, Olympic Sound Collective)
Ben Bloom: Guitar (War Pigeon, LaPUSH)
...and when we are lucky:
Isaac Weiser: Bass Guitar (Captain Seahorse, Alpha Roots Transmitter)
Karl Olsen: Percussion (Proceed)
Members of The Funk Revolution have shared the stage with:
March Fourth Marching Band
Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings
The Budos Band
The New Mastersounds
Garaj Mahal
Dengue Fever
Chin Chin
Orgone
and Willie Nelson.
LUCKY BROWN & THE FUNK REVOLUTION
the network:
http://www.westsoundrecords.com/contact
http://www.tramprecords.com
http://www.textureclothing.com
http://www.myspace.com/joelricci
http://www.myspace.com/yogomanburningband
http://www.cascadiastoneware.com